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AC/DC - Thunderstruck Pt.3 - Guitar Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Key B minor
AC/DC - Thunderstruck Pt.3 - Guitar Solo guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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AC/DC Hard Rock 1990 B minor
Capo Advisor 0 B minor · Original key

About Thunderstruck Pt.3 - Guitar Solo

Few guitar moments hit as hard as Angus Young's solo in "Thunderstruck," and this third section is where the intensity peaks. AC/DC built the track around a relentless single-note picked intro, but by the time the solo arrives, Angus is deep into his trademark wide vibrato and slashing pentatonic runs in B minor. The key of B minor sits comfortably in open position and up the neck, yet keeping the phrasing clean at the song's driving tempo is the real test. Focus on the pick attack first: Angus digs in hard and every note needs to speak with authority. The bends need to be accurate and fully committed, which is easier said than done at speed. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the trickiest run slowed down until your fingers know the shape before you push the tempo back up. Get the feel locked in before you worry about going full speed.

  • The solo sits in B minor and draws almost entirely on the minor pentatonic scale, making scale position knowledge essential before attempting it at full tempo.
  • Angus Young's wide, exaggerated vibrato is central to the tone here, so practise applying consistent vibrato on sustained bend notes before running the full phrases.
  • A bridge-position humbucker with moderate gain and a touch of treble boost will get you closest to the sharp, cutting solo tone on this track.

How to Play Thunderstruck Pt.3 - Guitar Solo

Key: B minor · Tempo: 134 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 134 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Angus Young's 1968 Gibson SG Standard is the foundation of AC/DC's signature tone, its lightweight mahogany body and full upper-fret access enabling his aggressive, fluid lead work. Stock Gibson humbuckers push Marshall Plexi amps into natural tube saturation, giving him the perfect balance of dynamics and crunch without relying on effects.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead cranked to full volume is where Angus Young's power comes from, with no master volume control forcing the power tubes to compress and break up naturally. This thick, harmonically rich overdrive defines AC/DC's raw, unprocessed rock tone straight from guitar to amp.

Marshall JTM45
Amp

Marshall JTM45

Angus Young uses the Marshall JTM45 as his primary amp for achieving natural tube saturation at high volumes, where the amp's power tubes generate organic overdrive without any pedal assistance. This minimalist, direct approach captures AC/DC's core sound: pure, uncolored guitar and amp interaction.

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